Hindu activist Arun Kumar Puthila served another notice, this time for inflammatory speech

MANGALURU: A day after the Puttur police ordered the externment of Hindu leader Arun Kumar Puthila from the district, he was served another notice on Tuesday for alleged inflammatory speech.

During a protest rally to condemn the Pahalgam terrorist attack on tourists, Puthila had made a speech where he allegedly likened Islam to terrorism. Based on a complaint from one Ashraf, the Puttur police issued a second notice to him directing him to present himself for questioning in the case.

Congress worker Hakim Kurnadka has also been served an externment notice.

Meanwhile, Congress worker Hakim Kurnadka, who has also been served an externment notice, has vented anger at Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai alleging that the lawmaker was responsible for it.

“The Puttur police have given false information to the assistant commissoner against me and the inspector had earlier threatened me that I would be externed if I spoke against Ashok Kumar Rai. The MLA is behind this notice”, he said.

“He won because of Muslim votes and is now doing injustice to the community. He didn’t visit Abdul Rahiman’s house fearing that he would lose Hindu votes. After the next election, he will be a former MLA and we will defeat him even if he stands for gram panchayat elections”, Hakim said.